Heat exchanger



Aug. 19, 1947.

w. RADTKEI 2,425,826

HEAT EXCHANGE R Filed Jan. 29. 1945 3 Sheets-Shunt l Aug. 19, 1947.

w. RADTKE 2,425,826 HEAT EXCHANGER Filed Jan. 29, 1945 3 Shasta-Sheet 2f7? Mevz for Willie: fame Aug. 19, 1947. w RADTKE 2,425,826

HEAT CHANGER Filed Jan. 29. 1945 3 Shasta-Shoot 3 Patented Aug. 19, 1947T OFFICE f nna'r nxcmuvonn William ltadtke, Chloe nier Bros. Co.

111., assignor to Melena corporation of Illinois Application January 29,1945, Serial No. 574,989 2 Claims. (Cl. 257-187) The present inventionrelates to heat exchangers of the trickle ty'pe wherein the heatexchange units are pivoted or hinged to swing about parallel axes andhas to do more particularly with the mounting of the same.

One object or the invention is to arrange the parts so that the severalleaves or units maybe individually assembled and removed for repair orotherwise with a minimum of ei'l'ort. This is brought about by havingmost of the projecting pivots enter the headers from the top. There areat least four headers and tour pivots for each unit oi the heatexchanger wherein the invention is used. One of the headers and itspivotal connection are reversely positioned in order to provide'ior anopposition of forces within the exchanger. It has. also a separablecoupling or union which enables it to be moved out oi the way whenassembling or disassembling the unit.

Another object is to so construct the headers and their pivots that theuse oi gaskets is avoided. The only place where a' gasket is used is inthe sanitary coupling or union which is employed with reversedconnection.

Another object is to set the tubular pivots in the holes or the headersin such a way as to insure a perfectlyhorizontal positioning of thedistributor on the top edges of the several leaves or units wheninoperative position. Inother words, the top edges of the leaves mustlie in a. perfectly horizontal plane. To bring this about, I employ anovel construction'ot stuiiing box. In the fourheader construction,.twooi the headers one a reversely positioned header, have ledges or hearingsteps at the bottoms of the pivot receiving holes that take up thethrust oi the pivots, due to their reversed positions, and there, bybeing carefully made, serve to maintain the proper setting of thedistributor. The other two headers have holes which do not have thesethrust bearings. With this construction; it is possible to maintain agood setting-f the distributor and good engagement of the. pivots withthe ledges or bearings under the opp sing forces, and great care neednot be employed in machining the same. i

Another object has to do with drainage and with the prevention ofleakage. By locatihg the reverse connections in the way proposed, it ispossible to readily drain oil? the water. This may be of considerableimportance, as where a plant, employing the heat exchanger, is used buta few hours a. day and is then shut down and allowed to become cold. Inthe proposed construction, there is no head of water left in any of theunits. Conof the invention will be tion, indicated by the line I 2sequent there is nothing to freeze with certain prior art structureswhere water is left in the passages and the plant is shut downduring-freezing weather; construction. there is practically tic-leakage.

Other objects have to do with eiiiciency coupled with ease of operationand economy, streamlining cleanliness, saving in floor space and thelike.

These various objects and advantages will be: more fully understood uponreference to the following detailed description taken inconnectlon, withthe accompanying drawings, and the-scope partlcularlynpointed out in theappended claims. I

In-said drawings,

Fig. l is a vertical sectional changer constructed and arr with thepresent invention, being indicated by the line I Fig. 2 is a top planview,

view-of a heat ex- -I of Fig: 3; a portion being serge. 22 ,oi'Flg, 1;.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken a-little. lower down, indicated bythe line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section indicated by the line H of Fig. 2 andillustrating especiallythe fitting or the units into the grooves formedin the under side of the distributor; i I r Fig. 5 is a transversevertical section taken on.

a plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Fig.2;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical section through the second header from thetop, indicating theseparable 'hollowplvot on a large scale; and

Fig. 7 is a similar section of the lowermost header and itspivotalconnection.

Throughout these figures, like characters refer to like parts.

The principal parts of the exchanger include a main frame A, a series ofvertical heat exchange units B, appropriately positioned headers C C Cinterposed hollow hinge connections D D D a distributor E located abovethe units and resting upon the top of the same, and a receiver F locatedbeneath the units.

a The main frame A includes a base portion in which the receiver F islocated, and an upright supporting portion which carries the headers.The base portion includes a bottom i0. which is provided with sides H,M, a forward end l3, and a transverse partition ll extending between theside walls H, II. These parts form the boxllke construction of thereceiver F. Thebottom ll) of the receiver is depressed somewh'ahtowardthe forward end of the receiver, asindicated at, l5,. and thus providesfor draining the liquid from the receiver through an outietpipe I8. Thehit- .asis the case! And due to the novel anged in accordance, the planeof section,

ter serves to carry 01! the liquid which is collected after beingtreated by the units 13. The bottom iii is provided with short legs IS.The latter engage the supporting surface on which the exchanger stands.The upper edge of the receiver is shaped so as to provide a reentrantangle 2,0 and an outwardly extending lip 2| just above it. This grooveand lip cooperate with the,

form of a rectangular frame comprisin; vertical channel members 22, 23,which are secured to. the bottom lq and walls ll 01 the base t exchangerh s mem er acclima ed a the r white. cha c M alter thesacartsa are cmposed metal. and stir oi the stcinlessvarieta and-ens s cured tesethain elite-bl was as it new m8? iacqlio unnshtstructu erinr thesnpmrtortonmheaderslqt G9; Gi lattice-crow ed,

The heat'exch nsesumts 11B substant all the some a disc osed lathe,aforesaid Batent Hm anionic ,In-the nresentinst me. each n hasapsuppersection all and low r sect on. .8,; Tl'ifizlihfliflr asva whole are madenot twosheets otnieteli. Preferably stainle s. which. are pressed toform grooves or depressions such. that when the two sheets are brought tgether; and secured byaweldinaor otherwise; as a desired, merciwilibepwoseways "for, theheat exchan e medium throuchthc, interior. of; eachsection. Thepassages in thelcase of. section 2Flwiilv extend from theinlet 29ft!) the outlet 30,.. Similarly, in the case oisection 28;, thepassages will extend-dram the-inlet; lhupto the; outlet 32.

The roux-headers C C are, associated with tour pivots.or-'.pl-votal:connectionsaDl. D; D; as shown.- Theinletall communicateswith thepiw oral .connectioam-i' The outlet connection 8i!- communicateswith the connection D The inlet connection 8| communicates with thelowermost connectioniD and the connection 32 communicates with theconnection D3 next toithe lowermost. a -1 Without-going further intolthendetails of constructionof the units B, it may lie-pointed out thatthe flow of the heat exchange medium in the case of the uppersectlon 21will extend from the inlet 29 through parallel paths to the space 33 atthe i-ightas viewed in Fig. 1, thence through parallelpaths to the space34 at the left, thence by similar paths to the space 85 at the right,thence to the space lit at the left, and so on back and forth to th'euppermost passages and thence out through the outlet MI. The flow oi theheat exchange medium in the case of the lower section' It'will includepassages which extend back and; aforth through the iinterior and finallyemerge at the outlet connection 32. The units B" also have their'inner:and outer ends turned laterally to form strengthening flanges 31. 38.'I'husxthere-is a pair of inlet headers. anda pair ofv outlet' headersoperatively connected with the heat-exchange-unlts. Drip'rings 26 servetocon fine theidrip. of-the condensate in a well known manners wlniother words; it causes the drip to fallto therear: ofpthe wall 14. l

The-headers are spaced aswshown, and extend between the uprights 22 and23 of the main ameters. and a thrust i The. vertical portions of theframe it preierably 4 frame A. These headers differ amongst themselvesbut slightly. and accordingly the uppermost header C may be describedand later the differences in the others will be pointed out. This headercomprises a hollow body 39 which is connected at its rear to an outletpipe ll). The body 39 is secured near its ends by screws 4| and 12, tu-Entire uprights 22 were of th irairne A. The upper horlfiontal face ofthe bee er is thus connected to lie in a horizontal plane when inassembled position. The upper wall of the header hody this provided witha thickened portion 43 throug'lilwhich the openings for the pivotsextend. 'Dhisaifliickened portion 4.3 is of the same length as th'eheader. Each opening extends at right,angles tp itsppper face throughthe thickened por ion 43 to the interior I of the header. Theseopenings. designated 45, are of varying diameter, that is, in eachopening there is an upper iameter a a in ermedia e diam ter It and aows! di met nsid c s- 5,) hesearemede illust te a resi ue led e or s eaPmudedrbe we n ar e and n ermedi te: di-

fbceri c on ledge time esorov iiedhetween. e n ermediate andsmall-rdiameters.

he ve tical Porti n ii of thcelbewsshescd pivotal: connection!) engagesthe thrust; stepifiil; and-n ch s 5mm. nec ng st p itirwhichis. sli htlyinclined dow w rd toward the cen er of; the bore asshown. Thus the:overhan ing led e 5!) provides a thrust bearin stelitffil the pivot andthe led e A8 a 'na ns t n- A-nackinc siendi nut ti urrounds the tubeitand-isthrc d dat 54 into the mouth of the openings Bywscrewing; downthepackinglnut 53, pressurelsbroughtrto bear upon the packing ringsanother: form a" tight connection with the tu'bularportlonn'i oii thepivot.,; Thus, the end of the verticalportion 5! of the Divotengages-thestep bearingjli; and the pecklnsengases the pa lngebearin flwhen serving4 to'.

the, parts are in position, the nut 53; force the packing down; tight.It wilhbenot-ed that therelisa small clearance; 51 between: the nut 53-and the tubular portion 5!. Likewise, there :is; a similar clearance. 55contiguous to the: thrust bearing? 50. The former provides for easy;manipulationof the nut and a tight binding of the packingringstfl uponthe pivot portion 51. Likewise the latter provides -for a guiding actionof the end of the pivotlinto its seat uponi the thrust hearing 50. Thisdescription relates-1 as we havebeforepointed out, to the first-oruppen-host header C A The header C is the same in construction as: theheader-C, but. is reversely positioned upon the frame A. This reversepositioning causes 'an opposition in the forces appliedto the units bythe contained medium. and thus reduces there-1 sultant force along theaxis of rotation. Where a readily vapoi-izable heatcontrol medium, suchas ammonia, is employed. this pressure may bee considerable. The headerC communicates with a supply pipe 4.6.

When we come to the header C we find it is practically the sameasheaders 0 and 0 except that the opening is not provided- -with theoverhanging ledge 50, but is cut away as shownat 59. Thus theinteriorldiameterhof this/pore: tion ofthe header is larger thannthediametersi of corresponding portions of the headers B and- C' Inother words, the bore of the opening ln. this case: has but twodiameters. that of'the large diameter .a and that of the intermediate:diameter b. By continuing the cutting of the anaeeo drill on downthrough the material of the thickened portion 43 of the header body 39until it enters the interior 44, this may be accomplished. All this isclearly illustrated in Fig. '7. With such construction it is obviousthat the lower ends of the vertical portion of the pivotal connection Dneed not be cut oil evenly or, if so cut, need not .be of the samelength as the corresponding parts 50 of connections D and D. This isindicated in Figs. 1 and '7 by the vertical portions 55 which are madelonger than the portions 5| of connections D and D.

Instead of having the portions 5i and 55 of different lengths asrecited, they may still be of the same length. Thus, variouscombinations may be used. It is only essential that two of theconnections, one the reversed connection, should have the verticalportions the same as the portion SI of connection D The others may bethe same or otherwise as indicated.

The inlet header D (the lowermost header) is connected to a supply pipe48 and the outlet header I) (the one above the lowermost) is connectedto an outlet pipe 41.

It will be apparent that by making the upper faces of the headers C andC and the lower face of the header C" perfectly horizontal, and bringingthe ends of the tubular portions Si or 55, as the case may be, to anexact position with reference to the upper edge of the particular unitunder consideration, the parts when assembled may be brought to bearperfectly against the thrust bearings Ill and then any slight variationin the position of the headers C and C" will be taken up by thetolerance allowed in connection with the screws ll, 42, which securethese headers in place.

It will be noted that it will not require the same accuracy ofadjustment with reference to the other headers, namely, the header C 6,since the long portion 55, which enters into these headers, can passdown through the enlarged opening, indicated at 58, or ii short, can beguided sufficiently by the guiding walls of the intermediate diameteropening the same as in the case of the headers C or C, having the thrustbearing ill.

Referring to the pivotal connection D it will be noted that besides thevertical portion 5i, it comprises also a horizontal portion Gil which issecured to the adjacent portion of the unit 13 at the point 3|). Thus,by the entire connection, the interior of the unit B is connectedthrough the pipe portions of the pivot ill and 5|, and the hollowinterior of the header to the pipe Ill. The same is true of the pipeconnections D which also comprise a horizontal portion 8|, in one caseconnected at 32 to the unit, and in the other case at 3 I.

In the case of the reverse connection, D is the pivotal element andcomprises the vertical portion 5|, previously referred to, and a shorthorizontal portion 62 which terminates in an inclined head 63. This isshown on a large scale in Fig. 6. Cooperating with this is a nut 64having a projecting ring 65 adapted to engage the head 63. The head 63and ring 65 have mating inclined faces which engage each other. The nut84 is interiorly threaded for engagement with the threaded exterior ofthe head 65. By screwing up the nut 64 upon the head 66, the connectionis completed. By unscrewing the same, the connection is broken. Thus aquickly releasable coupling is provided.

Between the head 66 and the end of the horizontal portion 62, is agasket 61. This gasket is composed of fiber or other suitable material.It is the only point in the various connections oi. the header whichemploys a gasket.

Thus, from what has been said, it will be seen that each of the pivotalconnections D, D", D, constitutes an elbow-shaped communicating pivotextending outwardly from the units B and vertically into the openingsand two at least into thrust engagement with the thrust bearings 50.

Assuming that the parts are assembled as illustrated, if it then bedesired to take down a unit, all that is necessary is to rel-ease orloosen the various packing nuts 53 and remove the cou pling nut 64 fromthe head 66 of the horizontal projection 68 extending from the unit B.Then with the coupling nut 64 removed from the head 68, it is easy toswing the pivotal member, comprising the vertical portion SI and thehorizontal portion 62, to one side, out of the way, and then. by raisingup upon the unit 3, the entire unit is removed. When the same or a newunit is to be replaced, the operation is reversed. It will be noted thatin so doing, the vertical portions of the elbow hinges may be easilyslipped into the openings 45 in the headers C and C and then when thevertical portion SI of the uppermost header D engages the thrust ledge50, the pivotal portion of the connection D may be swung back into placeand the coupling nut 64 properly positioned. Then the various packingnuts 53 are screwed up so as to insure a proper connection.

When the connection i) is opened up, the uppersection 21 is readilydrained. Any water within it readily flows out through the inlet 29- 58.Thus nothing is left within the heat exchanger to freeze, in case ofcold weather.

The heat exchanger is ordinarily provided with a distributor E forsupplying liquid to the several units. This may take the form of thedistributor disclosed in the aforesaid Patent 2,049,947. The distributorbottom H is provided with suitable apertures 12 (see Fig. 4) which havevertical grooves 13 which fit over the upper edges of the units B. If aheat exchanger of a given capacity is supplied, it may be advisable tofit up only a fraction of the ultimate number of units of which theexchanger is capable. This may be done, in some jurisdictions, byfilling up the apertures 12 of one or more of the rows with solder. Whena new unit is to be put into service, the solder may be removed bymelting it out.

Similarly, the extra connections in the headers may be provided andplugged up by plugs.

Thus, in the case illustrated, there are three units and provision for afourth. The fourth set of openings 45 are closed by plugs and washers,as indicated in the case of the header C by a plug H and a washer 15.And the fourth row of holes 12 in the bottom H of the distributor E isclosed by solder I6.

The distributor E need not be further described. Suflice it to say thatit has a pipe connection 11 which enables liquid to be supplied to it.

Although but four headers are shown, it will be obvious that more mightbe employed and all the additional ones provided should have thearrangement preferably of the header C although from what has been saidit will be clear that different arrangements might be employed.

Likewise still other modifications may be made in matter disclosedwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Because ofthis fact, it is aimed, by the terms of the appended claims, to includeall of these alterations and modifications whirh rightly come within thescope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising an upright supporting frame, a heatexchange unit having an upper and a lower section, each section havingan inlet at its bottom and an outlet at its top, a pair of inlet headersassociated with said inlets, the upper section inlet being on a levelwith a low point in the passage of said section, a pair of outletheaders, all of said headers associated with said outlets being securedto said frame in vertical alignment and spaced relation, three of saidheaders having a horizontal upper Wall and one of said headers having ahorizontal lower wall, the latter of said headers being associated withthe inlet of said upper section, each of said walls being provided witha vertical opening therethrough, each said opening having a packingstep, the opening in said lower wall and one opening in one of saidupper walls also having a thrust bearing step, four elbow-shapedcommunicating pivots extending outward from said unit and verticallyinto the openings in said headers, two into thrust engagement with saidthrust hearings in said two headers, packing material resting upon saidpacking steps and surrounding the adjacent portions of the pivotsrespectively, a. packing gland fitting against each said adjacentportion of the pivot and threaded into the header to compress thepacking, and a quickly releasable coupling upon the reverseiy connectedelbow-shaped pivot, whereby upon separating said coupling the uppersection may be eiiiciently drained and the unit readily lifted from theheaders.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a supporting frame, a heat exchange unithaving two sections, an upper and a lower section, each having an inletat its bottom and an outlet at its top, inlet and outlet headersassociated with said inlets and outlets respectively, the headersassociated with the inlet and outlet of said lower section and 8 withthe outlet of said upper section having a horizontal upper wall and theheader associated with the inlet of said upper section having ahorizontal lower wall, each of said walls being provided with a verticalopening, each said opening having a packing step, the openings of theupper section headers being also provided with a thrust bearing step,four elbow-shaped communicatinz pivots each having a horizontal portionconnected to said unit and a vertical portion connected to a header, theconnection with the inlet of said upper section being from a low pointin the passages of said section, the vertical portions of all of thepivots entering the openings in said headers and those entering theopenings of the headers associated with said upper section passing intoengagement with the thrust bearings thereof, packing material restingupon said packing steps and surrounding the adjacent portions of thepivots respectively, a packing gland fitting against each said adjacentportion oi. the pivot and threaded into the header to compress thepacking, and a quickly releasable coupling upon the horizontal portionof the elbowshaped pivot associated with the inlet of the upper sectionwhereby upon separating said coupling the entire upper section may beefliciently drained and the unit may be readily removed by lifting theunit when desirable.

WILLIAM RAD/IKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,949 Mojonnier Nov. 14, 19392,190,584 Feldrneier et a1 Feb. 13, 1940 2,200,355 Cornell, Jr May 14,1940 2,211,514 Newhall Aug. 13, 1940 2,363,526 Hobbs Nov. 28, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 692,355 Germany June 18, 1940Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,425,826.

August 19, 1947.

WILLIAM RADTKE It is hereby certified reversed insert the; col

headers associated with all of that errors appear in the numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: umn 5, lines 6 and 7, column 7, lines14 and 15, claim 1, strike out the comma and words printed specificationof the above Column 1, line 24, before the word for connection readconnections; all of said said outlets and insert instead associated withsaid outlets, said headers; and that the said Letters Patent should betions therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

read with these correc- Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A.D. 1947.

THOMAS r. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

spirit and scope of the invention. Because of this fact, it is aimed, bythe terms of the appended claims, to include all of these alterationsand modifications whirh rightly come within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A heat exchanger comprising an upright supporting frame, a heatexchange unit having an upper and a lower section, each section havingan inlet at its bottom and an outlet at its top, a pair of inlet headersassociated with said inlets, the upper section inlet being on a levelwith a low point in the passage of said section, a pair of outletheaders, all of said headers associated with said outlets being securedto said frame in vertical alignment and spaced relation, three of saidheaders having a horizontal upper Wall and one of said headers having ahorizontal lower wall, the latter of said headers being associated withthe inlet of said upper section, each of said walls being provided witha vertical opening therethrough, each said opening having a packingstep, the opening in said lower wall and one opening in one of saidupper walls also having a thrust bearing step, four elbow-shapedcommunicating pivots extending outward from said unit and verticallyinto the openings in said headers, two into thrust engagement with saidthrust hearings in said two headers, packing material resting upon saidpacking steps and surrounding the adjacent portions of the pivotsrespectively, a. packing gland fitting against each said adjacentportion of the pivot and threaded into the header to compress thepacking, and a quickly releasable coupling upon the reverseiy connectedelbow-shaped pivot, whereby upon separating said coupling the uppersection may be eiiiciently drained and the unit readily lifted from theheaders.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a supporting frame, a heat exchange unithaving two sections, an upper and a lower section, each having an inletat its bottom and an outlet at its top, inlet and outlet headersassociated with said inlets and outlets respectively, the headersassociated with the inlet and outlet of said lower section and 8 withthe outlet of said upper section having a horizontal upper wall and theheader associated with the inlet of said upper section having ahorizontal lower wall, each of said walls being provided with a verticalopening, each said opening having a packing step, the openings of theupper section headers being also provided with a thrust bearing step,four elbow-shaped communicatinz pivots each having a horizontal portionconnected to said unit and a vertical portion connected to a header, theconnection with the inlet of said upper section being from a low pointin the passages of said section, the vertical portions of all of thepivots entering the openings in said headers and those entering theopenings of the headers associated with said upper section passing intoengagement with the thrust bearings thereof, packing material restingupon said packing steps and surrounding the adjacent portions of thepivots respectively, a packing gland fitting against each said adjacentportion oi. the pivot and threaded into the header to compress thepacking, and a quickly releasable coupling upon the horizontal portionof the elbowshaped pivot associated with the inlet of the upper sectionwhereby upon separating said coupling the entire upper section may beefliciently drained and the unit may be readily removed by lifting theunit when desirable.

WILLIAM RAD/IKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,949 Mojonnier Nov. 14, 19392,190,584 Feldrneier et a1 Feb. 13, 1940 2,200,355 Cornell, Jr May 14,1940 2,211,514 Newhall Aug. 13, 1940 2,363,526 Hobbs Nov. 28, 1944FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 692,355 Germany June 18, 1940Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,425,826.

August 19, 1947.

WILLIAM RADTKE It is hereby certified reversed insert the; col

headers associated with all of that errors appear in the numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: umn 5, lines 6 and 7, column 7, lines14 and 15, claim 1, strike out the comma and words printed specificationof the above Column 1, line 24, before the word for connection readconnections; all of said said outlets and insert instead associated withsaid outlets, said headers; and that the said Letters Patent should betions therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in thePatent Ofiice.

read with these correc- Signed and sealed this 21st day of October, A.D. 1947.

THOMAS r. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

